Virginia D. Meagher
05 April 2017

WEST BOYLSTON - Virginia Dolan Meagher, 84, of West Boylston and formerly of Worcester, died Thursday, March 30, 2017 at the UMass-Memorial Medical Center after being stricken ill at home.

She leaves her husband of 50 years, Richard A. Meagher; a son Richard A. Meagher Jr. and a daughter Kathleen D. Ryder, both of Worcester; two grandchildren, Allison and Thomas Ryder; a brother, William G. Dolan and his wife Mary of Annapolis, Md., and Kathleen Dodge and her husband Ogden of Riverside, R.I.; three sisters-in-law, Janice Dolan, Marilyn and Dolores Meagher; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, John B. Dolan Jr. and Philip M. Dolan, and her sister Josephine K. Reney.

Virginia was born in Worcester, daughter of John B. and Josephine (Kelley) Dolan.

She lived most of her life in Worcester until moving to West Boylston 10 years ago.

Virginia was a graduate of North High School and Worcester State University.

After teaching for several years in the Worcester Public Schools, Virginia served for 20 years as the Title One Coordinator for the Worcester school system. She received the Key to the City from Worcester Mayor Raymond Mariano in 1995 for service to the children of Worcester, when she retired after 32 years as a Worcester educator.

She was a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Church, the Friday Afternoon Club, and the Worcester Art Museum.

She enjoyed her summers with her family on Cape Cod at her home in South Harwich, including membership in the Wychmere Harbor Club.

Throughout her many years, Ginny’s interests and hobbies were innumerable. Golf, tennis, bridge, gardening, home improvements, entertaining, love of piano, and the morning crossword puzzle were among her passions. Her ability to host family holiday gatherings was unsurpassed, with upwards of 50 family members visiting Ginny and Dick’s Bay State Road home throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Her steadfast belief in the positive impact public education has upon society was unshakable, as was her dedication to her family. Ginny was a forceful and dignified presence in our collective world.

Calling hours were Tuesday, April 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester.

The funeral was held Wednesday, April 5, from the funeral home with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 25 Fales St., Worcester. Burial followed in St. John’s Cemetery, Worcester.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Virginia’s memory may be made to the St. John’s Food for the Poor, 44 Temple St., Worcester, MA 01604 or the Worcester County Food Bank, 474 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.